Montreal has four straight wins and is within a whisker of having the best record in the NHL. Showing no signs of fatigue, goaltender Carey Price continues his quest for both the Hart and Vezina trophies.

2

Nashville Predators

41-15-7

▼ 1

All the pieces are in place. Complacency is the only thing that can stop Nashville from winning the division, and possibly the presidents' trophy.

3

New York Islanders

41-21-2

▲ 4

Forward Anders Lee was named NHL Rookie of the month for February. When injured forward Kyle Okposo finally does return, this team will be on another level.

4

Tampa Bay Lightning

38-20-6

▲ 1

Last season the Lightning burned themselves out down the stretch of the regular season. This time around, they may be taking it a little too easy.

5

Anaheim Ducks

40-17-7

▲ 5

Both goalies are finally healthy again, and the Ducks have won five of their last six games. Forward Tomas Fleischmann is a nice addition to the corps group. The Ducks are doing just fine.

6

Los Angeles Kings

29-21-12

▼ 2

LA shored up the blueline by acquiring defenseman Andrej Sekera. They had a three-game slide after eight-game win streak, but no need for panic.

7

St. Louis Blues

40-18-5

▼ 4

The Blues are a very good team, but having Nashville and suddenly hot Minnesota in their division makes it tough.

8

New York Rangers

38-17-6

▲ 4

NY is 8-1-1 in last 10 games, and all without goalie Henrik Lundqvist. When King Henrik returns, this team may become truly unstoppable. The acquisition of All-star defenseman Keith Yandle was a great move, as was coming to terms with Mats Zuccarello. The Rangers have gone all-in.

9

Detroit Red Wings

35-15-11

▼ 3

Veteran forward Erik Cole should fit in just fine on the Detroit roster. It is time for goalie Jimmy Howard to step up his game. It is almost guaranteed they will face Tampa Bay in the playoffs.

10

Pittsburgh Penguins

36-17-9

▼ 2

Evgeni Malkin is coming alive at just the right time. Malkin has four goals and five assists in the last three games. Newcomer Daniel Winnik will add good depth scoring up front.

11

Chicago Blackhawks

37-21-5

▼ 2

Losing Patrick Kane for 12 weeks is devastating, but the acquisition of defenseman Kimmo Timonen and forward Antoine Vermette will help greatly.

12

Minnesota Wild

33-22-7

▼ 1

The Wild continue to impress. Goalie Devan Dubnyk was just named NHL's 1st Star of the month. It is not inconceivable that they finish top three in the division.

13

Ottawa Senators

27-23-10

▲ 11

27-year-old rookie goalie Andrew Hammond has started the last five games, allowed only five goals, had two shutouts, and the Sens have won all five games. Remember his name.

14

Vancouver Canucks

36-23-3

▼ 1

Goaltender Ryan Miller will miss the next month due to injury. If ever Eddie Lack wanted to prove himself, now is the time.

15

Washington Capitals

34-20-10

▼ 1

Newly acquired forward Curtis Glencross will add a good element of physicality and secondary scoring. He should fit nicely into the system of head coach Barry Trotz.

16

Boston Bruins

31-22-9

—

Boston is just 3-5-2 in the last 10 games. The Bruins seem intent on giving up their playoff spot, and now have lost David Krejci for the month of March.

17

Calgary Flames

33-25-4

▼ 2

Defenseman Mark Giordano is the heartbeat of the team, and he was just placed on IR. This may be more than the Flames can overcome.

18

Florida Panthers

28-22-13

▼ 1

The acquisition of 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr may be enough to get the Florida Panthers past the floundering Bruins and into the playoffs.

19

Winnipeg Jets

32-20-12

▲ 1

It looks as though newly acquired forward Jiri Tlusty is fitting in nicely, and defenseman Tyler Myers is as good as advertised.

20

Philadelphia Flyers

27-25-11

▼ 2

The Flyers are still hanging around the fringes of the playoff race. They will probably keep the Flyers faithful interested for about two more weeks.

21

New Jersey Devils

26-27-10

—

Jaromir Jagr has been dealt to the Florida Panthers and the Devils still are not going to make the playoffs. That's it for New Jersey news.

22

San Jose Sharks

30-25-8

▼ 3

Three straight losses as the Sharks continue to fade out of the Western Conference playoff picture. The only thing that may save them is recent key injuries suffered by both Calgary and Vancouver.

23

Colorado Avalanche

27-25-11

▼ 1

The reality of not making the playoffs is setting in and the team seems to be losing discipline.

24

Carolina Hurricanes

24-30-7

▲ 1

Nobody knows what the Canes will look like after the trade deadline, but there are some good pieces on this opposite-of-synergy team.

25

Dallas Stars

27-26-10

▼ 2

Jamie Benn's classless head-punch of Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg last week is a fitting way to remember the Stars' wasted season. At least Erik Cole made it out of here.

26

Columbus Blue Jackets

26-32-4

—

Columbus cannot catch a break. During the same week, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky finally returns from injury they lose both Jack Skille and Brandon Dubinsky.

27

Edmonton Oilers

18-35-10

▲ 1

The only drama is in waiting to see which pieces will be dealt away at the trade deadline.

28

Phoenix Coyotes

20-36-7

▼ 1

This year's team has been scrapped, and parts are being sold off to the highest bidder. Defenseman Keith Yandle must have been grinning ear-to-ear as he boarded the plane to New York.

29

Toronto Maple Leafs

25-33-5

—

Leafs managed to rid itself of the contract of David Clarkson. That is about the only good news coming out of Toronto, as fans continue to toss jerseys onto the ice.

30

Buffalo Sabres

19-39-5

—

Sabres management just needs to make sure to remember that this mess is not the fault of head coach Ted Nolan. It was created by the front office powers that be.